to make a long story short, my sister has done more for me lately than anyone could have ever imagined. planning on going to my sister's for at least Thanksgiving---most likely Christmas too. anyway, she LOVES chocolate. i would love to make something really special for her to show my appreciation. was thinking a chocolate cake, maybe layered?---but, anything that has chocolate would do, i'm sure. just wondered if anyone had something "special" that they would be willing to share---or, could point me in the right direction in finding something special. not afraid of tackling something a little "difficult"---would just like a bit of a "wow" factor to it.

not sure if it is an appropriate question, but, thought it wouldn't hurt to try.

A nice dark Flourless Chocolate Cake would be something I would suggest, served with fresh raspberries and whipped cream, and chocolate curls or shavings. It is decadent and rich, flourless does not mean light.;) It's gotten "wows". It's something you see at expensive restaurants, but it's fairly easy to make, though it does involve some techniques like folding beaten egg whites. It would be great for a chocolate lover! There's tons of recipes if you search. It's not like a layer cake, you would just make one layer in a springform pan, then say dust with icing sugar, and cut and serve in wedges with a dollop of cream, dark chocolate shavings, rasberries or whatnot. It is an easy cake to transport and will hold well at room temperature (I dislike taking cakes to people's houses that need refrigeration, because when entertaining people often have bulging fridges as it is. just put the whipping cream in the fridge).

Another "sick" chocolate one I do is a white and dark chocolate and raspberry ganache tart, with a chocolate crust. Ganache is that soft chocolate stuff in the middle of a truffle, made from chocolate and heavy cream and whatever else. The white and dark ganaches are sort of swirled in there with good quality fresh raspberries. I actually think that one's too "sick" for after Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

But thinking of that brought to mind that you could try making a box of truffles for her too as a little gift, they are easy to make, not expensive compared to buying them. Lots of recipes for those too on-line.

section 11.5 orange chocolate roulade is great! (that's how I found that link, I use Belin's recipe for this roulade, and I went looking to see if it was online anywhere, and there happened to be one place I could link you to it). The Tarte fridoline is a little like the second thing I'm talking about above.

Hi, I have jsut recently reviewed the best chocolate cookery book I have ever seen, just been released by Divine Chocolate. It has some fab recipes my two favorites are Roast Peaches in white choclate sauce and white chocolate chip brownies. You can buy the book from amazon, if you want to see the Roast peaches recipe its on my blog! dont think I can post the recipe on the forum copyright etc!!

I like to make a cocoa based chocolate cake, then cut it into layers , sandwhich this around a decatant brownie with toasted pecans, you could use coffee in your cake or your brownie, a truffle piping around the chocolate icing....

your truffle should be a really good quality dark chocolate, ( from one chocoholic to another, bet your sis would love that)!!

Truffles are a Good Idea

Just click on the episode index (by title would probably be the easiest way) and look for the show titled Art of Darkness III There are other recipes in that episode that might be nice, and, of course, there's Art of Darkness I and Art of Darkness II

my ex-wife used to make these simple and delicious brownies - at least everyone we knew thought they were great. It was the Kahlua that set 'em apart from run of the mill brownies.

This fudge recipe has my mouth watering! I am such a chocolate fan too...especially dark chocolate. You can make batches with mint, different kind of nuts, etc, and end up with gifts for a lot of people. And this would be easy for her to share!

I've not made nor eaten these since 1991, and in all honesty, I don't remember clearly. I believe they were more dense than cake type brownies, but not quite as thick as what I'd consider a fudgy brownie. They are good, however, and no one has ever complained about 'em.